simple to spectacular

November 28, 2018

painted poinsettia is the perfect set to revisit today as poinsettias are arriving to doorsteps all over my neighborhood. i'm hoping my husband picks up a few from costco soon! as always, i stayed true to my typical clean and graphic style on all three takes, each one a little more involved than the last. and I've paired old with new in the form of my very favorite shape shifter for a modern take on christmas. the natural steps of these die collections make the progression from simple to stepped up to spectacular so easy.

for all three of my cards, i decided to use the inner cut out circle for my green element and backdrop to a single poinsettia. on the simple version, it's the only circle cut that i used and the poinsettia is adhered flatly to it. i decided on the modern looking merry christmas from sentiment staples: christmas to play off of the linear pattern of the cut out. with these basics decided, i began adding more details...

for the stepped-up version, i added the stitched circle around the cut-out circle, popped up the poinsettia on foam tape, and added nuvo crystal drops in english mustard to the dots in the center of the flower. then i sprinkled clear glitter on top of it before it dried. voila! just a little more detail and sparkle! the inner portion of the flower is also die cut on its own for a bit more dimension.

finally, for the spectacular card, i used the same layer panel elements as before but trimmed just a bit off the bottom to have a piece of luxe gold paper peeking out from below. to balance the gold, i added a thread nest to fit just inside the circle element, layering the small flower on top of the large one for a more full poinsettia, which is also attached with foam tape. again, the center of the flower is die cut separately for added interest and depth.

and there you have it - three degrees of holiday double cuts! just like other times, i love all three for different reasons. "simple" less fussy cards are perfect and easy when i need something fast, and i really enjoy a good "spectacular" session when i have a lot of open-ended creative time. but the "stepped up" version is probably my most typical stamping zone. what do you think - do you have a favorite? let me know in the comments! and if you haven't already, be sure to check out the original post on the papertrey ink blog - lizzie and melissa have projects too! i always love seeing what my fellow stampers do with the same set.

September 26, 2018

good morning! it's my turn for simple to spectacular today, one of my favorite papertrey ink blog features! who doesn't love a simple, classic sugar cookie? but then you add icing and it's even sweeter and more decadent. and then you pop on some sprinkles and suddenly it's a party! today we're showcasing tea for two, a great stamp set for a variety of occasions - a reminder to "sip & relax" is often just what we need. i was particularly excited to take the polka dot teapot for this simple to spectacular spin, pairing it with something new - and plaid! as always, i stayed true to my typical clean and graphic style on all three takes, each one a little more involved than the last. from simple to stepped up to spectacular, i used the same stamps, colors, and basic layout...

for my simple version, i created an almost one layer card. i love the middle die from the shape shifter series to add the look of a layer without actually adding one. it's one of my favorite clean and simple tricks lately. i did decide to use a die cut teapot for added interest and just a little depth. it just seemed a little too simple stamped directly into the oval.

next, i stepped up the design a little bit by adding the middle die cut from shape shifters: oval 3 for an additional pattern. i love this plaid and lining it with weathervane cardstock really makes it pop! after adding this detail, i lost the area needed to add my sentiment. the double ended banner in cream was just the right size, also serving to ground the teapot. this is my next favorite thing to do with the shape shifters sets - the pattern surrounded by the frame adds such a cool detail!

and finally, for the spectacular version, i added the outer ribbon frame to my focal piece. it really adds a dainty touch, perfect for a teapot. and just as i had hoped, i love the contrast of golden yellow polka dots with the bold gray plaid. the result is so cozy and with the white on white, still a bit modern, too. it definitely makes me want to sip and relax!

and there you have it - three degrees of tea for two! just like other times, i love all three for different reasons. "simple" one layer cards are perfect and easy when i need something fast, and i really enjoy a good "spectacular" session when i have a lot of open-ended creative time. but the "stepped up" version is probably my most typical stamping zone. what do you think - do you have a favorite? let me know in the comments! and if you haven't already, be sure to check out the original post on the papertrey ink blog - dawn and heather have projects too! i always love seeing what my fellow stampers do with the same set.

July 25, 2018

good morning! it's my turn for simple to spectacular today, one of my favorite papertrey ink blog features! who doesn't love a simple, classic sugar cookie? but then you add icing and it's even sweeter and more decadent. and then you pop on some sprinkles and suddenly it's a party! today we're showcasing vintage linens - i just love these bold blooms and couldn't wait to play with them again this month! inspired by the stamp set title, i decided to create a hint of a vintage linen placemat of sorts to ground the stemmed flower duo in the set. as always, i stayed true to my typical clean and graphic style on all three takes, each one a little more involved than the last. from simple to stepped up to spectacular, i used the same stamps, colors, and basic layout on each...

for my simple version, i created a one layer card, using cover up: grid as my offset placemat. i really like a one layer card for the image layering possibilities, especially stamping the sentiment over the images slightly. that is one particular look that gets a little harder when you use die cuts, so it's something i try to do when making one layer cards because i like the results. starting with the simple version, i chose bold black flower centers to play off of the bold black sentiment from the recently released botanical bounty sentiments.

next, i stepped up the design a little bit by adding die cuts for both the flowers and the placemat element. i still used cover ups: grid, but this time on a panel die cut from scallop stackers: medium using only the outside scallop. i offset the whole piece just as i did with the grid on the first to maintain the same layout and to call attention to it, the complete panel is popped up on foam tape. although you can't really see it in the photo, i colored over the center of the flowers with a clear wink of stella glitter pen.

and finally, for the spectacular version, i took it a few steps further. first i added the inner scallop cut from scallop stackers: medium to add more of a lace edge to the placemat and stamped the grid on the inside layer cut from the largest of the pierced feature frames dies, which adds a nice stitched edge look just inside the scalloped edge detail. since these together were two layers of card stock that had plenty of interest, i adhered them flat to the card and popped up the flowers on foam tape instead. a few rainstones are the perfect finishing touch, along with nuvo crystal drops in ebony black in the flower centers, which were also dusted with clear glitter before they dried. a little bling bling is always a good thing!

and there you have it - three degrees of beautiful bold flowers a la vintage linens! just like other times, i love all three for different reasons. "simple" one layer cards are perfect and easy when i need something fast or want to play around more with layering images, and i really enjoy a good "spectacular" session when i have a lot of open-ended creative time. but the "stepped up" version is probably my most typical stamping zone. what do you think - do you have a favorite? let me know in the comments! and if you haven't already, be sure to check out the original post on the papertrey ink blog - heather and laurie have projects too! i always love seeing what my fellow stampers do with the same set.

April 25, 2018

good morning! i'm on deck with simple to spectacular today, the latest and greatest papertrey ink blog feature! who doesn't love a simple, classic sugar cookie? but then you add icing and it's even sweeter and more decadent. and then you pop on some sprinkles and suddenly it's a party! i have always loved pedal pusher and couldn't wait to take it for spin this week! i love riding bikes at the beach. so, inspired by that along with my favorite color, and true to my typical clean and simple style, i have three takes for you today, each one a little more involved than the last. from simple to stepped up to spectacular, i used the same stamps, colors, and basic layout - and now I want to go ride a bike!

first up, the "simple" version. i love a one layer card and this was a fun one to figure out. without bells and whistles, layout really takes center stage. one thing i often do to add interest to a one layer card is to stamp the sentiment so that it partially overlaps the main image. in this case, the placement and font style give a feeling of forward motion to the bike. the offset placement of the scallop "clouds" from ombre builders also add to that motion. layout aside, this card is clean and simple, straightforward stamping - with the help of my misti to line things up perfectly, of course!

next, i "stepped it up" with die cuts and a bit of masking and selective stamping. after die cutting the bike, i stamped it in bright buttercup twice just as i had on the first. but this time, i masked off the edge of the handles and seat and stamped them again in honey nut - all without moving the die cut and stamp from the misti. perfect placement! don't you just love the extra detail this simple trick adds? since it's a die cut, the bike is now above the sentiment, rather than overlapping it and where it was stamped off the edge, i simply trimmed it to fit. the clouds and the sentiment placement still hint at forward motion and a die cut sun adds a new splash of yellow at the top of the card. the result is still clean and simple, with just a few more steps than the first.

which brings us to "spectacular" featuring some of the same details and a few more too. this time the bike is a double die cut to balance other new elements on the card. i stamped it the same way to get the detailed seat and handles, and then stamped the frame one more time in versamark and heat embossed it with clear embossing powder. it's hard to see in the picture, but the embossed gloss really makes the frame stand out nicely. i also added a new layer of detail to the sky by stenciling the sunburst from the sun & surf stencil collection in spring rain and fussy cutting the cloud scallops. after adhering these on top of the stenciling, i popped the sun up on foam tape for added height. a scattering of clear sequins is the perfect finishing touch - a little bling is never a bad thing!

like last time, i love all three for different reasons. "simple" one layer cards are perfect and easy when i need something fast, and i really enjoy a good "spectacular" session when i have time to spare, while the "stepped up" version is probably my most typical stamping zone. what do you think - do you have a favorite? let me know in the comments! and if you haven't already, be sure to check out the original post on the papertrey ink blog - lizzie and melissa have projects too...

February 28, 2018

hi guys! i'm back again today for yet another fun new papertrey ink blog feature, simple to spectacular. who doesn't love a simple, classic sugar cookie? but then you add icing and it's even sweeter and more decadent. and then you pop on some sprinkles and suddenly it's a party! the idea of this feature is to show how a stamp set can go from clean and simple to simply spectacular with a few extra layers or embellishments. this week we're showcasing doodlie-do and i decided to "send a little sunshine" with mine!

for my first card, i went clean and simple all the way with a one layer quickie. if you've been here more than once or twice, you know this is one of my go-to styles. i love a quick one layer card! a little simple stamping, add a sentiment, an easy bling thing and voilá! can you figure out how i added color? after stamping the images in smokey shadow ink, i flipped the stamps over on the block and stamped the back of it in color right on top of the matching image. it's one of my favorite tricks when the stamp base follows the basic shape of the stamp image - two stamps for the price of one! to finish it off, i colored each flower dot with a wink of stella clear glitter pen and wrapped a bit of metallic gold thread around the top. i can rarely stay away from a little sparkle and shine even on a clean and simple card like this!

next, i stepped it up a bit with die cuts and more detailed coloring with copic markers. while it's still technically clean and simple with the same amount of white space as the first card, it's a little more involved and took a little more time. i used four shades of yellow for the flowers (Y11, Y21, Y19, YR23) and two greens for the leaves (YG11, YG25). the doodlie-do images are so fun to color with all the little spaces! the two on the right are adhered flat to the card base with multi medium matte, while the third is popped up on foam tape. and although it's hard to see in the photo, the petals of all three flowers are curled up for even more dimension. like the original, i finished it off with my handy wink of stella clear glitter pen and a metallic gold wrap at the top!

and finally, for my "spectacular" take, i stepped it way up, incorporating ideas from both previous cards and adding in ink smooshing, splatters, and more bling things! i really liked the simple color behind the stamped images on the first, so i translated that idea here to support my single blinged out focal flower. after ink smooshing a mix of bright buttercup and harvest gold where the trio of flowers go, i stamped them right on top in bright buttercup to create sort of a background layer. i also splattered some of the same watered down inks all over the white space. i colored the die cut flower and leaf the same way as on the last card, curled up the edges, added a little wink of stella clear glitter (a little more this time!), and finished it off with chunky gold glitter on the dots. after it was sufficiently blinged, i popped it up on foam tape and strategically placed three acrylic dew drops around it. like the others, a little metallic gold thread wraps it all up!

from simple to stepped up to spectacular, i used the same stamps, colors, and basic layout on all three - and i love the results! "simple" one layer cards are perfect and easy when i need something fast, and i really enjoy a good "spectacular" session when i have time to spare for experimenting. But i think i typically live in the "stepped up" realm the most. Still it's always nice to stamp outside of your typical box! What do you think of this new feature? It really is a great exercise in seeing the different possibilities and trying new things. Be sure to check out the original post on the papertrey ink blog - heather and melissa have projects too!!

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